…but if they did, it would probably be this one. The Bernina 820 Long Arm Quilter. I’ve never heard of Bernina, but what do I know? What I do know is that it’s Swiss, it’s computerised and, close-up, it’s, um, what I will call “needle junk”, looks like a tattoo gun. The internet will not tell me how much it costs which makes me want it more. And, oh, how I want it. If you buy it for me I will give you a sweetie.
I’ve suddenly found myself really, really, ridiculously busy recently. I have several half-written posts knocking about backstage at Smashing Quilts and not a spare second to craft them properly. So instead I’m going to share DISCOUNT! One of my favourite little Dickensian quilting havens, The Quilt Room in Dorking is having an online Autumn sale. Their fabric range is lush and when you’re shopping there you can pretend you’re Mrs Matlock the Georgian housekeeper.
I read in an article recently that, while most independent businesses have been suffering terribly in recent years, Cath Kidston has seen her annual profits increase from just under £20 million to over £30 million. A growth attributed to, apparently, our need to escape the misery of the latest patch of uncertainty and desperation by surrounding ourselves with the pretty reminders of a time when things weren’t so crap. Just been made redundant? Never mind, at least you’ve got a nice bit of 1950s floral on your ironing board. I can not criticise the need people have to distract themselves from what life, especially working, city life, seems to be now. The same old rat race but with the added pressure of less job security than ever. It’s almost not even worth worrying about. What will happen will happen, and in the mean time why not paint your drawers duck-egg blue? If a scrap of polka dot fabric can make you feel happy and dreamy and calm then upholster everything in it. Upholster the cat. It won’t mind. And if you’re looking for a suitable nostalgic cat fabric, the V&A have followed up on their excellent quilt exhibition from last year by releasing a range of vintage-design cottons, all the proceeds of which go to the upkeep of the museum. The patterns are taken from and inspired by all the collections, with a sub-range in collaboration with my favourite haberdashery in the world, Liberty, and there’s a 15% discount off their exclusive quilting fabrics until stocks last. Definitely going to get some.
